The Portland daily press., 1887-11-19
LADY PINKERToN's JEW
ELS.
Whitehall Review.

intimat'nn from the chief that was to take
up the case:'
Lady Pinkertun, who arrived here this morning
from London has Lad her jewels stolen on the
down competent man at once to assist local po-
lice. ALGERNoN WADE,
Adam Castle, DaInley, Northumberland.
So ran the message. 1t sdid not afford
much information, and it did not seem as If
there were very much chance OF recovering
the stolen property. However, it was per-
haps too soon to judge of that. photographed
to Sir Algcrnon Wade, who understood was
Lady Pinkerton's host for the present, ask
ing that description Of the missing trinkets
should be sent at once; and arranged that
the description should be printed and circu-
lated among the pawnbrokers of the me-
tropolis and the other large towns of the
country without delay. These necessary
matters having been attended to, set out
for Kings Cross, and was soon on my way
to the north.
1t was late when | arrived at my destina-
ton, but began at once to make some in
quiries First of all | saw Lady Pinkerton
herself Her story was very soon told. The
set of diamonds which had been stolen con-
sisted of a necklace, pendant, tiara and ear
rings. The stones were very fine ones
worth. she had been told, at least 10000. Her
engagements had compelled her, she said, to
travel down from London by night. Her
husband being in Scotland, she was attend
ed only by her maid, who travelled in the
compartment "a second-class one) next to
that in which Lady Pinkerton herself per-
formed the journey. Before leaving town
she had given the iewel-case to her maid, re-
Winding her as she did so of the value of the
gems which were entrusted to her, and
charging her not to allow the box out of her
sight for an instant. According to the maids
account, she had never allowed the case to
be out of her sight, yet, as matter of fact
when poor Alice Wright-tha was the maids
name--canle to open the jewel case it was
empty. One or two commonplace ornaments
Of little value in drawer in the lower part
of the case had been overlooked by the
thieves; but the brilliants were gone
! could not help thinking that things
looked rather black for Alice Wright, and
naturally asked how long she had been in
the family, and what kind of character she
had brought from her last situation
''She has been only is months with me"
replied Lady Pinkerton,i "but she came to me
with an excellent character, and have every
confidence in her. She may have contributed
to the loss of the jewels by her carelessness,
but will not believe for an instant that she
is guilty OF helping to abstract them"
This speech pleased me and rather sur
prised me. 1t was more generous than had
fad oil fnl- no hoA
struck me as being cold and lf-possessed
woman of the world; and could not under
stand how the diamonds could have been
stolen without the maids connivance.
left Lady Pinkerton's sitting-room, and
asked for an interview with the girl Wright.
found her quiet, understanding, and
really ladylike young woman. There were
traces of tears on her cheeks, and she trem-
bled slightly, but that was only natural. |
had been long enough on the police force to
know that no presumption either Of guilt or
innocence can be inferred from such signs
as these.
Now, I'm going to ask you few ques-
tons" said. as the girl seated herself op-
positc me, ''and you'll answer them or not
as you think fit. 1t would be no kindness to
conceal from you that certain suspicion at
taches to you in connection with this affair,
and therefore it is my duty to caution you.
If You are innocent think your best plan
win be to answer frankly"
The girl merely bowed her head by way of
reply, and proceeded to put my first ques-
ton:
'You brought Lady Pinkertcn's jewell
case with you from London?"
Il did,"
''The whole way?"
"The whole way"
"When YOU got into the railway carriage,
where did you put it?'
ION the seat of the carriage, close to me.
was leaning my elbow upon it nearly all
the way"
"How many people were there in the
carriage?"
"a good many at first-seven think when
we started-but most of them left the train
at Peterborough and the place we stopped at
next after Peterborough"
.'When you got to York, how many were
in the compartments besides YOURSELF"
"Three-an elderly man and his wife, and
one young gentleman"
"And after York;"
"The old gentleman and his wife got out
at York"
And the young gentleman"
''He was going to Edinburgh, he said"
$50 you and he travelled alone from York
to Newcastle?'
Yes; that was not my fault"
Certainly not. BY the way, what did you
do with the jewel-case when you got out
at York %
Il never got out at York." answered the
girl, rather sharply.
'Never got out?" / echoed.
II never left the carriage, aud might al
most say never had my hand or my elbow
off the box from the time we left London till
we got to Newcastle. AT Newcastle Sir AL
gernon's carriage met u.s."
felt considerably nonplussed, but con-
cealed my thoughts, and put my next ques-
ton with an easy SMILE
''As the young gentleman and you were
left alone together Isuppose he performed
various little acts Of politeness for you?"
HE got me cup Of coffee at York. an
swered the girl readily.
do you know his name?"
mo"
'0r his busness?'
mo. He was quite stranger to me-
"You talked together good deal2"
Eyes, a good deal"
And you told him who you were. and who
was in the next compartments"
mo indeed"
did you say or hint That valuables were
entrusted to your"
''Neyer; am certain of it,"
after you had the coffee did you fall
asleep?"
AFTER we left York | remember closing
my eyes, but did not fall asleep. And
had my elbow on the jewel-case them
You dozed then, or at least rested with
your eyes shut--I am not blaming you, it was
very natural on a long night journey-till
you got to Newcastle?"
mo; till we got to Darlington
''Did you feel very heavy and sleepy
then?"
"Not more so than usual after night
journey"
zone more question. This young mah
would you know him again? What was he
like?''
Tall and fair, with slight whiskers and
mustache. He wore dark gray overcoat. |
- IL. Il